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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Margaret Chester" <mrsmchester@gmail.com>
Reply-To: margaretschester@yahoo.ca
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:04:24 -0700
Subject: Assistant


Centre De Sante Bethesda Hospital

83BP:1730 Gbejromede

Cotonou Benin Republic

Dear Friend,

It is with tears and pains that I write this mail from my sick bed in a
hospital. I believe you have never met such a condition before. My name is
Mrs. Margaret Chester, widow to late Mr.Peter Chester, former owner of
PETROLEUM AND GAS Company, here in Benin Republic.

I am 68years old, suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all
indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that
I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors.

This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't
want your pity me, but I need your trust. My late husband died in December
2003 in a plane crash in Benin, (please check,
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html).and
during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late
husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business
and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 1
months, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly
to the development of charity in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Am sorry
if you are embarrassed by my mail.

I found your e-mail address over a month now that I have been praying about
you to know if really you are working according to the direction of God so
after all my prayers I am convince, and I have decided to contact you, but
if for any reason you find this mail offensive,you can ignore it and please
accept my apology before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in
Benin and deposited the sum of US8,000,000.00 (Eight Million Dollars only)
in abroad some years ago, That's all I have left now,I need your help to
collect this funds and distribute it yourself to charity homes.So that when
I die my soul will rest in peace.

The funds will be entirely in hands and management hope God gives you the
wisdom to touch very many lives that is my main concern. 30% of this fund
will be for your time and effort, while 70% goes to charity.Please, send
reply and all correspondences to my email.

Attached ID is my attorney ID in Ghana and you can contact him directly on
this email address Barrister James Wood Kufuor, tell him that you get his
contact from me.

Please i need you cooperation with him please.

God bless you.

Regards
Mrs Margaret Chester

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam